Careers Adviser

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Senior Careers Adviser to join our dynamic and forward-thinking Careers Team. In this key position, you will work across multiple sites within our Essex academies, supporting students to make informed, ambitious, and aspirational decisions about their futures.

As a senior member of the team, you will work closely with the Strategic Careers Lead and fellow advisers, providing expert guidance and helping to shape and deliver a high-impact CEIAG programme. You will also be a valued colleague within a supportive and collaborative team, where you will always have someone to bounce ideas off and share good practice.

Whether it's further education, apprenticeships, traineeships or employment, you will play a vital role in guiding students towards the post-16 and post-18 pathways that best suit their individual goals and aspirations.

Your contribution will be central to raising aspirations, inspiring ambition, and ensuring every student, regardless of background or ability, is fully aware of the range of opportunities available to them. Together, we aim to deliver a high-quality, inclusive CEIAG programme from Year 7 to Year 13 that empowers all students to succeed.

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• A Diploma in Careers Guidance or Qualification in Careers Guidance to Level 6
• Experience in supporting or managing staff members to help them achieve their professional goals
• Proven working knowledge of Ofsted careers education assessment criteria for the personal development strand
• Experience of planning and organising events
• Proven experience in delivering impartial, personalised career guidance through one-to-one meetings, group sessions and assemblies
• Experience of successfully motivating students to plan and achieve their career goals
• A proactive approach, and efficient time management and prioritisation skills
• An ability to work independently and flexibly within the Academy structure
• Experience of developing and delivering CEIAG within an education setting.
• Genuine interest and passion for the education of young people and the ability to contribute more widely to the life and community of the Federation

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

What the school offers its staff

The Harris Federation is a leading education charity with 55 Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex. The founder, Chairman and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We now educate some 38,000 young people and closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission.

The Harris Federation has a track record of accomplishment in achieving success through rapid school improvement and has built an unrivalled reputation for running outstanding academies in London.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Further details about the role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning high-quality careers education with each academy's Careers Lead, aligned to statutory guidance and academy improvement plans
• Delivering careers assemblies that broaden students' understanding of post‑16 and post‑18 options
• Providing impartial, personalised career guidance through one‑to‑one meetings and group sessions
• Maintaining accurate, up‑to‑date records of guidance meetings and actions on Unifrog
• Tracking and reporting on students' aspirations and progression
• Supporting students with post‑16 and post‑18 choices, including referring those with specific needs (e.g., SEND) to specialist services
• Liaising with external agencies, networks, and partners to strengthen the Higher Education and Careers programme
• Engaging parents and carers in the careers guidance process and attending parents' evenings
• Organising meaningful employer encounters that inspire students and expand their understanding of the workplace
• Attending results days and enrolment days
• Supporting wider team members by sharing best practice and offering shadowing opportunities
• Acting as a point of contact and mentoring new team members to aid their development
• Providing careers-related evidence and supporting academies during Ofsted inspections

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Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.